Hinged closure member for low temperature cooling compartments



\ lllllllllllllll ll/l l/ Dec. 4, 1956 Filed Feb. 2, 1954 E. DEUTGEN R. HINGED CLOSURE MEMBER FOR LOW TEMPERATURE COOLING COMPARTMENTS 2 Sheets-Sheet l l r .viali/11111 111111111;11111111111111111111.111111",'14111111111' "111,1, r11

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Dec. 4, 1956 R, E. DEUTGEN HINGED CLOSURE MEMBER Filed Feb. 2. 1954 2,772,541 FOR Low TEMPERATURE cooLING coMPAETMENTs 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IIL W United States Patent O HINGED CLOSURE MEMBER FOR LOW TEMPER- ATURE COOLING COMPARTMENTS Ragnar Edvard Deutgen, Stockholm, Sweden, assigner to' e Aktiebolaget Elektrolux, Stockholm, Sweden, a corporation of Sweden Application February 2, 1954, Serial No. 467,720 Claims priority, application Sweden February 6, 1953 15 Claims. (Cl. 62--103) This `invention relates to refrigeration, and more particularly to hinged closure members for low temperature cooling compartments of household refrigerators.

In recent years low temperature cooling compartments have been provided in refrigerators of the household type which are suitable not only for producing ice cubes but also for freezing vegetables, fruits and meat and maintaining such foods at a low temperature below the freezing temperature of water. Many household refrigerators of this type are provided with a single door to gain access to the interior of the cabinet and a separate hinged door or closure member within the cabinet to gain access to the low temperature freezer section. Due to formation of frost or ice on the hinge structure and in the gaps `between the closure member and regions o f the cooling unit immediately adjacent thereto, the closurermember often can only be opened with an exceptionally strong pull. This is objectionable because, at the instant or moment when the bond effected-by the frost or ice is broken, the entire force of the pull is transmitted to the hinge structure and `subjects the latter to undue stress which may causeparts of the hinge structure to get "out of alignment or otherwise damage the hingeV structure,

so that the closure member will not pivot properly.`

t lt is an object of my invention to provide an improved hinge structure for closure members of `low` temperature cooling compartments which will effectively stand up and always operateproperly under all operating conditions encountered, especially when" the closure `members `can only be openedwith an exceptionally `strong pull dueto formation of frost or ice. z i' e i Another object of the invention is to provide suchn improved hinge structure `having a normalpoint about A which the closure member pivots when moved between its open and closed positions, and also asecondgpoint about which the closure member pivots and which comes into play tojprotect the hinge structure from beingrdamaged when a rather heavypull is exerted onV the` closure member when thelclosure member does not open freely. The above andwother `pbjects and advantages` ofA the invention will be more fully `understood upon reference to the following description and accompanying drawings forming apart of thisspecication, `andof which; L

` Fig. 1 isa fragmentary front viewr ofthe interior1 ,of `a `refrigerator embodying `the invention; l A j i j Fig. 2 is an enlarged verticalsectional `view talcen `at a right angle to the rear wall ofthe interiorof` the` Arefriglerator `shown in Fig. l; e me .i n

Pigs. 3 and 4 ,are i fragmentary 1 perspective `.views pf partsfshown in Figs. l and 2tlo-illustrate details-more Clearly; i 1 t Eig. 5 is a fragmentaryiview, partly broken away` and in section, takenat IineS-S of Fig 2; and`V i Figl 6 is a vertical `sectional view of partsd like those shownwin Fig. 2 illustratingfanother,embodiment ofthe invention; e t. j `Referringto Figs. 1 and 2,the invention is `embodied in a refrigerator" cabinet 10 having an `innere. Afr netalshell 2,772,541 Patented Dec. 4, 1956 or liner 11 arranged within an outer metal shell 12 and insulated therefrom with any suitable insulating material 14. The inner metal shell 11 defines a thermally insulated storage space 15 having an opening 16 at the front of the cabinet and into which access may be had by a door (not shown) hinged to the cabinet front.

Within the thermally insulated space 15 is arranged a cooling unit or evaporator 17 formed of piping and including piping 17a at one level which forms a low temperature cooling section extending between the lateral side walls of the space 15, and piping 17b at a lower level which is centrally disposed in the space and forms a higher temperature cooling unit section. Although not shown, the pipes forming the low and higher temperature cooling unit sections are connected to other parts of a refrigeration system by conduits which extend through a removable wall section in the rear wall of the cabinet 10. This manner of positioning a cooling unit in the thermally insulated interior of a household refrigerator cabinet is particularly well suited for absorption refrigeration systemsin which an auxiliary pressure equalizing gas is employed. In a system of this type a refrigerant fluid, such as ammonia, is introduced into the cooling unit and evaporates and diffuses into an inert gas, such as hydrogen, to produce a refrigerating effect. Such a cooling unit comprises the piping 17, as shown in Fig. 2, to provide an elongated path of flow for the refrigerant fluid and the inert gas.

A plate 18 is heat conductively connected in any suitable manner (not shown) to the top portions of the piping 17a. The plate 18 extends across the insulated interior of the cabinet 10 and forms the bottom horizontal wall of a freezing compartment 19 located in the upper part of the space 15 immediately beneath the ceiling of the inner liner 11. A door or closure member 20, which is hinged at the bottom horizontal edge thereof in a manner which will be described presently,l is provided at the Vfront access opening of the freezing compartment 19. Asshown in Figs. 1 and 2, the upper part of the door 20 is provided with a suitable hand grip 21 to facilitate opening thereof. In its upright closed position the door 20 is arranged to bear against a pair of rollers 22 provided at each lateral side wall of the inner liner 11, as shown in Fig. 2. Each roller 22 desirably is formed of a suitable resilient material like rubber, for example, which is eccentrically mountedon a pin 23, thereby permitting the roller to be turned or rotated to adjust the closed position of the door 20.

A plurality of fins or plates 24, which are parallel to the rear wall of the space 15, are fixed to the lower pipe section 17b to provide a relatively extensive heat transfer surface for cooling air in the lower or bottom compartment 25. An inclined drainage plate 26 is positioned at each side ofthe higher temperature cooling unit section 17b, as shown in Fig. l, and a tray or vessel 27 is removably held in position beneath the piping 1719 and plates 24 by slide rails 28. The drainage plates 26 serve i to collect moisture which forms on cooling unit 17 and falls. from different parts thereof, as during defrosting,

for example. The vessel or tray27 in turnis arranged torreceive all moisture falling from the higher temperature cooling unit section 17b as well as the moisture conducted to such section by the drainage plates 26.`

The cooling unit 17L is `provided with a `front shield plate or baffle 29 to conceal the piping 17a and 17b and fins 24 when thedoor of the refrigerator cabinet 10 is opened to gain access 'into the interior thereof. The baffle 29 is removably secured by screws 30 to a at member or strap 31 which extends across the interior of the refrigerator at the vicinity of the access opening` 16. Thestrapl at the endsgthereof is anchored in any suitable manner to` the wallsi of the liner 11, as indicated at 32 in Fig. 5. lf desired, the strap 31 may be employed to support the forward part ofthe cooling unit 17. This may be accomplished by securing to the strap 31 with: screws 34 regions. of the. downwardly extending ange or front lip 33 of the plate- 18 which. are removed from the'l'ateral side walls of the liner 11 and bear against theV rear face of the strap as shown in Fig. 5.

' rlhe lower edge ofthe baffle 29 is bent back upon itself to form aV groove 35 which receives the lower ends of vertical guide membersor. supports 36, the upper ends ofV which are secured at 37 to the strap 3i. While the slide railsZ for the tray 27 may be secured in any suit- VInaccordanee with my invention, thel closure member 20'for the. freezing compartment 19. is. provided with a hinge structure 40 having a normal.. point about which thetclosure member pivots when movedvbetween its open and closed positions,.and also a secondpoint about which the. closuremember.. pivots and which comes. into play to protect the hinge structure from being damaged when Varather heavy pulling force is imparted to the closure member to open. the latter, especially when the. closure member. does not open freely due to formation of ice at the normal pivot point Iof the hinge structure and in the gapsbetween the closure member and other parts of the cooling unit. The hinge structure 46 includes a housing 41 at the bottom edge of the closure member 2t) and a pair of levers @having the forward ends thereof pivotally vconnected to the4 opposing ends ofv the housing 41 and therear ends thereof pivotally connected to angle mem- Vbers 43.. As best shown in Fig. 5, one arm 44 of each anglemember 43 Vis secured by screws 4S to therear face .providedattherear. face of the closure member through which thewscrews 47- pass.V Within the housing 41' and at each endl thereof' is provided a hinge plate 49a.- having threaded opening-s1 lto receive' the linner ends of the screws 4 7. Accordingly', the screws 47 pass successively through ,openingsiin the 'reinforcing bar, bottom edge ofV the closuremember 2t),- iiat side of the housing 41fand hinge plates 49, as best seen in Figs. 2 and'5.V

The .hinge pla-tesdQiare bent at theouter ends thereof to form flan-ges Si) serving as end walls for the'housing 41,'. one of which, is shown in- Fig. 5. The forward` end .ofeach lever- 42.V is providedwith an elongatedl pin51 .which passes through an opening formed in. the llange litl-'ofoneof the hingeplates 49, as best shown in Fig. 5

Eachpin 51 is formed with an: enlarged head 52 which bears against the Voutside'face of the lever 42, a square-V Yshaped; portionA 53 which .snugly lfits Withiny a similarly shaped opening in. the forwardend. ofthe "leverfandv an elongated section Which'passes through'. an. openingin atrend llange SG' and. extends intothe housing 41, such elongated` section .having la slotSli' formed'. therein 5I IVt/ithini'each end ofthe housingv 41 is.. disposed. an

elongated. helical spring 55 having onefendthereof'connected to ftheslot 54 in one of the pins Stand. the op-v Y posite end thereof connected to a prong 56 which may be stamped out from one of the hinge plates 49. in order to place the springs 55 under tension to bias. the closure member 29 to itsclosedv uprightposition, theV pins 51 may be pulled outwardlysuchia distance that the square-shaped portions53, thereof 'are out ofengagernent with the similarly shapedV openings in the forward ends of the Vlevers 42.' Under these conditions, the pins 51 can be turned to place the springs 55 under tension after which the pins Sl' can again be moved axially to allow the square-shaped portions 53 thereof to pass into engagement with the similarly shaped openings in the forward ends of the levers 42 and maintain the springs under tension.

When the hinge structure 46 and closure member 20 are relatively free of any ice formation and the latter vcan be readily moved from its closed position lto gain access into the freezing compartment 19, the closure member normally pivots about the pins 51 at the forward ends of the levers 42 and the levers 42 remain stationary. Under theseconditions,when the hand grip 21- is grasped and the arm of an individual is extended horizontally to lopen Ythe closure member 2i), a downward force is imparted to the closure member and the elbows S7 at the undersides of the levers 42, at regions intermediate the endsl thereof, remain snugly in position against the top edgevof the strapSl. Stated another way, the'downward force imparted to the closure member 20 at the hand grip 21 effects pivotal movement of the closure member about an axis passing through the pins 51 and at the same time imparts a downward force on the levers 42 to` cause thelatter to remain stationary againstthe top edge of the strap 31. When the closure member 20 is released, the springs 55 immediately becomeoperable to cause the closure member 2? to move from its open position to its closed positionshown inFigs. 2 and-3.

In the event of ice formation in the gap 63 between the bottom of the housing 41 of the hinge structure and a horizontal trough portion 59 of the bale plate 29, they closure member 20fmay not open readily when the normal pull is imparted` to `the hand grip 21. Under such conditions, an exceptionallyl heavy pull may be kexerted on the hand grip 2 1 to open the closure member and break theice bond in the gap 63 tending to keep the closure member in its closed position. When such a condition arises and the arm of an individual is extended horizontally, the pull exerted on ythe closure member is usuallytquite horizontal with the pulling force having substantially no. downward vertical component. closure member 20 becomes free to move from its closed position upon the application of such an exceptionally heavy pullonthe hand grip 21` inthe mannerl just explained, the pulling forceris transmittedto the closure member 20`in such a way that the 'levers `42 will also pivot about thepivot points at 46, as illustrated in Fig. 4. Hence, when an exceptionally heavy pull is. exerted on ther closure4 member 20v and the ice bond' `is initially broken between the bottom of the housing. 41- andthe ice which may have formed-in the gap- 63V above the trough 59, all'of the pulling force is not taken up and completely= resistedatthe first hinge point about'which the closuremembernormally'pivots at the pins 5i). Instead, the instant the ice bond is broken, the' closure member 2t) can move upwardly in a directionA from the ice which rnayl haveformed in the trough 59 and the pulling force is transmittedV through the levers 42- and second` pivot points 46 directly to the -supportingistrap 31. The relative position the diierent partsassurne when this occurs is best illustrated in Fig. 4, it beingl noted that the housing 41 has been moved upwardly from the position shown `in Fig. 3 which'represents the'normal position of the housingwhen the closure member' 20 is inits closed position. However, the instant the second pivot point at 46 comes into play,Y thefh'eavy'- pulling force often is no'longer being "applied to'thehand grip 214 because such heavy pulling'force often is terminated during the interval'rof time -that a lost: motion effectv occurs'when the closure member 20 andlevers 42 move from lthe position shown in- Fig; 3' tothe position shownin Fig; 4. In, effect, the levers 423" form suitable' linkage which permits` the" axis of the pins 51 to shift vertically about an arc'theinstant an'gicebond isbroke'n, forexamp1e,"in the" act! of lopening the "closure 'member 20, thus enabling the closu'r When the membef `to move freely about the pins 51 without substantial interference by the frost or ice which may be in the gap 63.

While the closure member and housing 41 may be formed of any suitable material, I have found that a closure member formed of transparent plastic material and a housing formed of opaque plastic material are quite satisfactory because very little condensation of water takes place on such material. Since the levers 42 and angle members 43 extend rearwardly from the strap 31, a narrow space must be provided for these parts of the hinge structure 40 at each lateral side wall of the inner liner 11 at the vicinity of the cooling unit 17. Also, the rearwardly extending arms of the angle members 43 extend upwardly a substantial distance to provide a surface over which the levers 42 can ride, thus improving the stability of the hinge connection to the strap 31. It will also be noted that when the levers 42 are `in their raised positions, as shown in Fig. 4, the screws for fastening the bafe plate 29 in position are accessible at such times.

In Fig. 2 it will be noted that the bafiie 29 is provided with a top ange 58 which rests on top of the strap31 and partially supports the baffle while the bottom grooved edge thereof is held in the feet of the vertical supports 36. In addition, the baffle 29 is shaped to provide the trough 59 between the top and bottom regions thereof which is beneath the housing 41 of lthe closure member 20, as explained above. When water falls from the housing 41 and parts of the hinge structure 40 immediately above the -trough 59, as during defrosting, for example, such water collects in the trough which may be formed with drain openings 60 to conduct the water into the tray or vessel 27.

In Fig. 6 I have illustrated another embodiment of the invention which differs from the embodiment just described in that the housing 41a is more or less U-shaped `rather than in the form of a hollow tubular member. lIn Fig. 6 the hinge plates 49a are formed with flanges i61 at the top and bottom edges thereof which are at an :acute angle to the front face of the closure member 20.

'The flanges 61 form gaps at the underside thereof to resheet metal, can be so dimensioned that it will be resiliently held in position on the hinge plates 49a. In other respects, the embodiment of Fig. 6 is generally like the first-described embodiment of Figs, 1 to 5 inclusive. i

In view of the foregoing, it will now be understood that the hinge structure 40 includes a pair of levers or elements 42 in spaced apart relation for mounting the closure member 20 for pivotal movement about a `rst horizontal axis at; the region of the` pins 51, and for mounting the levers or members 42 for pivotal movement` about a second fixed horizontal axis at the pivoted regions at 46 of the levers. the undersides of the levers 42 are adapted to bear at the regions of the elbows 57, locates and positions the hinge structure 4t) to maintain the first horizontal axis, at the region of the pins 51, at a substantially definite position when pivotal movement of the closure member 20 about such first axis is essentially unobstructed in the act of gaining access to the freezing compartment 19. Further, the hinge structure 40 is operable to effect pivotal movement of the closure member 20 about the second longitudinal axis, at the pivoted regions at 46, when an unusually heavy pull is required to open the closure member, especially when the hinge structure 4t) may be subject to formation of frost or ice which builds up in the gap 63 between the trough 59 and the bottom of the housings 41 and 41a of the closure members.

In Fig. 3 it will be seen that the levers 42 straddle The strap 31, against which the strap 31 and rest by gravity on the latterwhen the first horizontal axis, at the region of the pins 51, is located at the substantially definitev position referred to above. By securing the downwardly depending front ange 33 of the plate 18 at 34 tothe strap 31, the latter serves as a support forthe cooling unit 17 at the forward part of the space 15 of the cabinet 10. However, the manner in which the plate-` 18 is fastened at 34 to the strap 31 provides a more or less poor heat conductive connection which restricts the transfer of cooling effect from the cooling unit 17` to the strapor elongated element 31, thereby reducing to some extent the formation of frost or ice on the hinge structure 40.

Although I have shown and described sever-al embodiments of my invention, I do not desire to be limited to the particular arrangements set forth, and I intend in the following claims to cover all modifications which do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is: f

l.,In a refrigerator comprising a cabinet including a thermally insulated interior providing a compartment having an access opening, cooling means for cooling said compartment below the freezing temperature of water to maintain the latter as a freezing space, a closure member in the thermally insulated interior for closing the access opening, structure including a plurality of elements in spaced apart relation for .mounting said closure member for pivotal movement about a first horizontal axis passing through first regions of said elements and for mounting said elements for pivotal movement about a second fixed horizontal axis passing through second regions of said elements removed from said first regions, resilient means for effecting pivotal movement of said closure member about the first horizontal axis to bias said closure member to its closed position at the access opening, locating means for maintaining said first horizontal axis at a substantially definite position when pivotal movement of said closure member about said first axis is essentially unobstructed in the actof gaining access to said compartment, and said structure being operable to effect pivotal movement of said closure member about sa-id second horizontal axis when a pulling effort greater than normal is required to open said closure member, especially when parts of said closure member at the vicinity of said first axis may be subject to formation of frost or ice.

2. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 in which said locating means includes an elongated strap against which parts of said-elements, at regions intermediate the ends thereof, bear when said first horizontal axis is located at the substantially definite position.

3. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 which includes an elongated housing carried by said closure member at the vicinity of a horizontal edge portion thereof, said resilient means comprising at least one `spring disposed in said housing. l t

4. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 in" which said locating means comprises a horizontal strap `against which parts of said elements, at regions intermediate the ends thereof, bear when said first horizontal axis is located at the substantially definite position, and means carried by said horizontal strap for mounting said elements for pivotal movement about said second fixed horizontal ax1s.

S. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 in which said cabinet includes spaced apart lateral side walls defining the insulated interior thereof, an elongated strap which extends across the interior of said cabinet, means for securing the ends off said strap to said lateral side walls, said locating means including said elongated strap against which parts of said members, at regions intermediate the ends thereof, bear when said first horizontal j axis is located at the substantially definite position.

6. Apparatus as set forth in claim 5 in which said elements straddle said elongated strap and rest by gravity "port forsaid-'coolingA means, said last-mentioned means providing a'heat Vconductive connection restricting the Atr'a'nsferr'sof fco'oli'ng 'effect from said cooling means to `said elongated strap.

, 9. 'Apparatus as'setforthin claim 8 including a front baie forsaid'jcooling means, and means for supporting said 'baie on said elongated strap.

,10. Apparatus as set forth in claim -9 including a vessel lfor'collecting moisturefrom said cooling means, as during'defrosting, forexample, said battle having a trough fpoition beneathsaid elongated housing which is formed with openings to `drain moisture, said baffle beneath saidtrough servingto'conduct moisture to said vessel.

l1l. Apparatus yas set forth in claim l0 which includes stop members against whichsaid closure member bears 'when in its upright closed position at the access opening, said stop vmembers being of cylindrical shape and having an outer peripheral surface formed of resilient `material, and vmeans including pins for mounting said stop members at'the side Walls of the cabinet interior,

-said stop members being eccentrically disposed on said "pins and turnable on the latter to'adjust the closed position'of said closure member. Y

l2. In a refrigerator comprising a cabinet including va thermally insulated interior providing a compartment having an'access opening, cooling means for cooling said 'compartment below'the freezing temperature of water `to maintain the latter'as a freezing zone, a wall mem- "iberfor :closing lthe access opening, hinge means for "pivotally mounting said wall member at the bottom part Vfthereof'for movement toward and from its closed upr'ightpos'ition at the access opening, said hinge means 'including 'linkage, means for pivotally mounting said linkage Vfor movement-about a first horizontal axis, means for pivotally Amounting the bottom part of said wall mem- `vber forfpivotal movement on said linkage about a ser:-V

ond"l'iori'zoritalv axisjfurther removed from the rear of vfsaid compartment than the tirst horizontal axis, resilient me'ans foreifecting pivotal movement of said wall mem# berabout the secondhorizontal axis to bias said wall member 'to its closed upright position, locating means 'op'erable 'to"'rnaintain the second horizontal axis at an essentiallyAdeniteposition whenmovement of said wall "member boutfthe'second axis is :substantially unobstructed thepact of gaining access to said compartment, said linkage :being movable' about the first' horizontal axis toshift the fse'eond'horizontal axis from the definite position 'to' a higher lposition when movement of said wall `member'is'obstructed in the act of initially gaining access Cil 'to said compartment, Yespecially'when such obstruction is caused-by formation of frost or ice, thereby enabling the second horizontal axis to shift from thedefiriite positionV to the higher position to facilitate moving said wall member Awithout substantial interference by the frost or ice.

13. yApparatus as set forth in claim l2 in which said locatingmeans includes an element in the path of move- 'ment of'afregionofsaid linkage intermediate the Afirst and second horizontal axes, said element serving as a stop to limit downwardgravity movement of said linkage and said w'allmem'ber pivotaliy mounted thereon.

14. In a-refrigerator comprising a cabinet including a thermally insulated interior providing a compartment havingan access opening, cooling means for cooling `said compartment below the freezing temperature of water to maintain the latter asl afreezing zone, 'a wall member for closing 'the access opening, hinge meansfor -second'horizontal axis tobias said wall member'to its closed vertically'disposed position, locating `means o per'able tomaintain thesecond horizontal axis'at anessentially 'definite position when movement of said wall member about the-second axis 'is substantially unobstructed in the act of gaining access to said compartment, said structure-'being `movable aboutthe first horizontalfaxis `to shift the second horizontal 'axis from the definite position'to another position when movement of said-wall member is lobstructed in the'actof initially gaining access to said lcompartment;especially when such'obstruction `is caused by formation of frost or ice, thereby enabling the second `horizontal axis to shift from-the definite posi- -tion -tov the `otherl position yto facilitate `rnovingsaid wall imember without substantial interference by the fr'ost or`1ce.

' 1S. Apparatus as s'et forth in 'claim 14 in `which said locating means comprises 'a stationary part in the-path -of movement of`a region'of said structure intermediate -the'rs't and second horizontal axes, said locating means including said stationary part serving as a stop Vto limit vertical movement of said structure `about the rst .horizontal axis and maintain 4the second horizontal axis at the essentially definite position.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED r STATES PATENTS 2,509,613 Philipp May 30, 1950 2,676,864 Townsend Apr. 27, 1954 'McGrath July 26, Y 1938 

